Ok all you Couch to 5K -ers

I've done it just remember when you get tired, just jog slower you will be very surprized how fast you can build up to running.

When I started I was 181lbs 5'4". I was not doing any exercise beyond chasing my 2 year old and picking up my 4 month old. I ran on the treadmill at 8pm just because that is the only chance I have to work out. I was never a runner but now I run 3 miles 3 nights a week on the treadmill and 3 miles outside on the weekend. I'm running my first 5k race at the end of October. As for shoes, I have new balance running shoes. They are nothing fancy. My advice would be to take it slow. I did my walk portions at 3.5 and run portions at 5.0. You can work on speed later. And don't be afraid to repeat weeks. I did most of the weeks twice. Good luck and have fun!

I am not what I would consider a "runner" , but I do jog about 5-6 miles 4-5 days a week. When I first started I was really overweight (now I'm just overweight). I do understand the concern about the jiggling. My advice would be to just start off slow and work your way up. I started off almost 11 months ago with walking at a very fast pace and slowly increased to a jog. My activity level was pretty low before I started. It really didn't take a whole lot to work my way up, but you just have to take it at your own pace. I don't have reallly expensive running shoes. I do have shoes that I only wear when I am running but they are not top of the line expensive ones. I agree with the "spiritual" aspect. Running has become my source of stress relieve and zoning out. There is something calming about getting on the treadmill for 60 minutes that until I was running I only was comforted by food. The only thing I can say about time of day is: My doctor said not to run to close to bed time because you will then not sleep as well. Good luck! I don't think you will be disappointed if you start!

I started in January, about 3 months into my weight loss journey. I was doing wii fit plus and wii biggest loser. We joined our local rec center/gym as a christmas present to ourselves. I went to payless & bought a pair of black champion runners (about $30, most comfy shoes I've EVER worn-- they are now in happy retirement, now that I have my first pair of fancy runners).
I've never found anything spiritual about running. I've always felt more of an Ohmigosh, I'm gonna die, but I can still do this!
As long as you keep telling your legs and feet to keep moving, they will. Running is 90% mental.

Sorry about that, I've never quoted before. Anyway, I am on week 6. When I started I was 274 and 6'1". All I had been doing previously was walking. I have bad knees to begin with, but I can tell you that the shoes make all the difference. I went to a specialty running store called **** Pond and they checked out how I walk, what kind of running I wanted to do, had me try on multiple shoes and I ended up buying the Asics Gel-Cumulus 12 for 94.00. My knees rarely hurt. Most running shoes have a 300-500 mile life so Im thinking I'll need another pair in about 6 months. As for the best time of day, well, I run when I can force it into my schedule which is usually in the evening. But I really do like it.

I do C25K. I did a round and a half of Insanity. I am 5'4" and 185 lbs now. I was 227 when I started my journey, 197 when I started on MFP.

I don't have too much of a problem doing aerobic type of activities, I am currently doing Turbofire. Running is a problem for me. Like Trish said above Running is 90% mental. I totally totally agree with that 100%!!! If I have my daughters IPOD and have a good upbeat song on that I like, I can zone out. Otherwise, I think about how I am breathing, how tired I might be, how much time I have left before I can walk again.

I wear a couple different styles of running shoes, I have Adidas, Nike, and New Balance. None of which were more that $60. My Nike are the most comfortable, because they hit my arch at just the right spot, but they are very worn out and headed for the trash any day. When you try them on in tthe store, jump around in them a little. Make sure they are a comfortable fit.

I do it in the evening when my daughter has soccer practice. lately it has been nice, when I first started it was extremely HOT and humid. Just do it when you can fit it in. I am now on wk4day3, scary to move on to week 5!!!!!!!!!!!! Still not easy, but getting better. I use to look at my timer like every 30 seconds, now when I look I may have 30 seconds left to run.

Good luck!!

Jody

Good luck! I did C25k years ago and became a distance runner and did a half marathon! But life got in the way and I stopped running so now I am starting C25k again tonight. It is a great program, just take your time and don't worry about how fast you go or if you have to repeat weeks. Speed will come with time, so go as slow as you need to for as long as you need to.